A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit on Monday brought by an interfaith group disputing the validity of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. The lawsuit claimed the commission’s overwhelmingly conservative Christian composition lacked the legally required balance of viewpoints.
Judge’s Ruling
Judge John P. Cronan of New York stated that while federal law mandates advisory commissions to have a balanced array of viewpoints, it does not specify how this balance should be implemented. He noted that Trump retains broad discretion in selecting commission members.
Lawsuit’s Arguments
The lawsuit, initiated by several plaintiffs including the Interfaith Alliance and Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh organizations, argued the commission was disproportionately composed of conservative Christians and included only a single Orthodox Jewish rabbi. They highlighted concerns over members’ past comments on church-state separation and the idea of America as a Judeo-Christian nation.
Concerns intensified when the commission released a draft report in June, which questioned modern interpretations of the separation of church and state and suggested building “bridges” between them.
Diversity Claims
Cronan determined the lawsuit, which called for a more diverse commission, did not meet the legal criteria needed to advance. He highlighted the commission’s diversity in other respects, including having both clergy and lay members, and representing at least five different religious traditions, citing a Jewish member alongside various Christian denominations.
Interfaith Alliance’s Criticism
The Interfaith Alliance contended that the commission lacked balance because its members prioritized religious beliefs over the civil rights of minority groups. However, Cronan pointed out that Trump’s executive order establishing the commission did not view “religious liberty as inconsistent with civil rights,” therefore, he was not required to appoint members who opposed this foundational idea.
The Interfaith Alliance has been outspoken against the commission, criticizing its draft report for not addressing critical concerns like anti-Muslim violence and for endorsing policies that privilege certain religious groups over others.
Note: Associated Press religion coverage is supported through collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP maintains full responsibility for this content.
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